Guide for Foreign Doctors working in Finland

F I N N I S H M E D I C A L A S S O C I AT I O N

HANDBOOKS OF THE FINNISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

LIST OF CONTENTS
Welcome to the Finnish Medical Association Tasks of the FMA Health care in Finland Medical education in Finland Practice of medicine by foreign doctors Membership benefits and services of the FMA Membership application 2 3 6 8 10 11 15

Publisher Layout Photo Printed by ISSN www.medassoc.fi/e

Suomen Lkriliitto Ainomaria Parikka / Taina Ilomki-Virta Heidi Emmes Multiprint 10/2009 0782-260X

Welcome to the Finnish Medical Association

Membership in the Finnish Medical Association (FMA) is voluntary, but practically all the doctors practising in Finland are members of the Association. As a foreign doctor you are welcome to join the FMA as soon as you have been licensed as a doctor in Finland. The goals of the FMA are important both for you and for our profession as a whole. They relate not just to the salaries and working hours of doctors, but also to other factors influencing the position and well-being of doctors. The FMA is a strong force in society and is actively involved in the development of health care and medical education. For the FMA, every member of the Association is important. Joining the FMA gives you the opportunity to influence the activities and goals of the Association. The higher proportion of doctors we represent, the more effectively we can promote our mutual goals. As a member, you can enjoy the many membership benefits and services offered by the Association. The Association will support you in salary negotiations and other work-related matters. The Association provides information, education and personal guidance that will speed up your entry into the Finnish health care system. As a member of the Association, you will be recognised as a full member of the medical community and as an equal among your colleagues both in your workplace and in the whole country. You will not be alone but supported by the expertise and strength of the FMA. This handbook has been compiled for immigrant members in particular, and it has therefore been translated into English and Russian. It describes the activities of the FMA and explains the benefits of membership. You will also find a membership application form at the back of the handbook. We look forward to welcoming you as a member.

Tasks of the FMA

Uniting the medical profession
The Finnish Medical Association (FMA) is a professional organisation and an independent trade union representing doctors from all branches of medicine in Finland. The Association and its members work in numerous ways for the benefit of patients and the improvement of the Finnish health care system. About 94% of all doctors in Finland are members of the FMA. The mission of the FMA is to work for the advancement of medical expertise, humanity, ethics and collegiality. The Association brings its members together in support of these values and safeguards their common professional, social and economic interests. Its policies are decided by elected members, who are supported by a professional staff of about 70 in the office in Helsinki. The FMA participates in the work of several international medical organisations, the most important of which are the World Medical Association (WMA), the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME), the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), the European Union of General Practitioners (UEMO), the Permanent Working Group of European Junior Doctors (PWG) and the Council of Nordic Medical Associations (NLR). one of the strongest and most influential professional organisations in Finland. It is a member of the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (AKAVA). Medical practitioners are highly educated experts, whose remuneration should reflect their professional status and the demanding nature of their work. The FMA negotiates salaries for its members in the municipal sector. In this work it collaborates closely with the Finnish Dental Association and the Finnish Veterinary Association, with both of which the FMA has formed a negotiating body. In addition to remuneration matters, safeguarding members interests also includes questions relating to working time arrangements, on-call duties and high workloads.

Promoting health care and patient benefits

The FMA actively contributes to the work of the Finnish parliament, the government and other authorities and decision-making bodies with the aim of developing health care in Finland. The Association is ideally placed to contribute professional expertise in this context as it represents nearly all physicians in Finland. The FMA pursues several initiatives and issues a number of statements each year with the aim of improving health care and the related legislation. The aim is to ensure that good quality care is available to all patients. Health services must be properly resourced, and the right of patients to choose their doctor and treatment location must be catered for.

Safeguarding members interests

Heikki Plve Chief Executive Officer One of the main tasks of the Association is to ensure fair salaries and other terms of employment for its members. The FMA is recognized as

Developing medical education

In collaboration with Finnish universities and specialist medical societies, the FMA works to develop basic and postgraduate education and to further the professional competence of doctors. Clinical work is an essential part of the basic education. Finnish medical education is highly regarded internationally. Every January, the FMA organises Finlands largest medical congress, the Finnish Medical Convention (Lkripivt). The Association also provides various other education opportunities for its members throughout the year. The FMA has undertaken pioneering work in improving the quality of health care. The Ethical Guidelines for the Quality Assessment of Health Care, which have been approved by the Board of the Association, state that each doctor must continually evaluate the quality of her or his work and the level of her or his skills by means of self-assessment procedures. Each year, the Association confers a quality award on a project that has been shown to benefit the provision of health care and the treatment of patients.

The rapid advances taking place in medicine constantly confront doctors with new ethical issues. The FMA gives ethical guidelines for its members. Finland has been active in establishing ethical provisions internationally, via both the WMA and the CPME. The most noteworthy are initiatives relating to the rights of the patient, continuous quality improvement and telemedicine. The FMA also made significant contributions to the review processes concerning the Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects (the WMA Declaration of Helsinki).

Invitations to local meetings are published in the Finnish Medical Journal or sent to you directly. The FMA also has nationwide, specialty- or sector-specific subsections that often take a stand on advocacy matters and professional issues in their field. Membership in a subsection requires specialisation in that particular field, a specialists degree or working in the field.

State-employed doctors have their own subsection; taking part in its activities is a good idea for those working at a university or similar institution. The State Sector Committee pursues the interests of doctors working in universities, ministries, the armed forces and other state institutions.

Defining your salary

One of the fundamental tasks of the Association is to promote its members interests. Not only does the FMA work to improve the salaries and working hours of doctors, it also works on a wide range of issues to promote their professional status, rights and education. The majority of doctors in Finland are employed by municipalities and joint municipal boards. The FMA negotiates in a centralised fashion with the Commission for Local Authority Employers (KT) on doctors salaries, working hours and other terms of their employment contracts to produce the Collective Agreement for Doctors (LVES). More general provisions concerning matters such as holidays can be found in the General Collective Agreement for Municipal Personnel (KVTES). The Associations representatives can agree with the local employer on improvements to the centralised agreement. You can also ask for an increase in the salary youve been offered when applying for a new post or taking on new, more challenging tasks. The private sector does not generally have collective agreements for doctors; instead, the salary and other terms of employment are agreed on a case-by-case basis. This means that you will have to look after your own interests if you start working for a private company or as an outsourced doctor with such a company. Check carefully that your salary and other terms of the contract meet your requirements. Irrespective of whether you are applying for work in the public or private sector, salary negotiations should always be completed before your employment contract is finalised. The FMA and its representatives can advise you on these negotiations. The Association has an online service for its members providing up-to-date information on doctors salaries in different fields and areas (www.laakariliitto.fi/jasen>palkkatohtori). The members web pages also give detailed information on agreements and salary recommendations for doctors.

Members elect decision-makers

The highest FMA decision-making body is the 60-member Delegate Committee, which is elected by members every three years. The Delegate Committee decides the main policies of the Association and approves its budget. It also elects the Chairman and other Board members. The day-to-day work of the Association is directed by the Board, which has 10 members. The Chairman of the Board is the FMA president. The Board is assisted by a number of committees, which deal with issues relating to members interests, health policy, medical education, ethics and finances.

Defending ethical values in Finland and internationally

One important activity of the FMA throughout its existence has been to promote ethical principles. When the Association was established in 1910, the first President expressed the hope that it would become the heart and conscience of the medical profession.

Take part in the activities of your local chapter

The FMA has a nationwide network of local chapters. You are free to participate in the activities of the local chapter for your place of work or residence. This will keep you up to date on current matters and give you an opportunity to meet your colleagues in your free time, too.

Health care in Finland

Health services are available to all in Finland, regardless of their financial situation. Public health services are mainly financed from tax revenues. The infant mortality rate in Finland is under 0.3% - one of the lowest in the world. The life expectancy for a girl at birth is 83 years, for a boy 76 years. The life expectancy of Finnish men is lowered by cardiovascular disease, excessive consumption of alcohol, and accidents. Cardiovascular mortality has declined in response to effective health and nutrition education in recent decades, but excessive blood cholesterol levels and obesity remain common in Finland. Smoking and drug abuse are significantly less frequent in Finland than in Europe on average. The aims of Finnish health policy are to lengthen the active and healthy years of its citizens, to improve quality of life, and to diminish differences in health regionally and between population groups. Prevention is given particular emphasis in primary health care. Most Finnish municipalities have arranged primary health care through a family doctor system. The aim is for a patient to be able to contact her or his doctor and have the need for treatment assessed within three working days. Relationships between doctors and patients have become closer as a result. The benefits of long-term patient-doctor relationships include a reduced need for hospital examinations. Outpatient care is also provided by private and occupational health care units. Employers are under an obligation to arrange occupational health care for their employees. About 6% of Finnish doctors work in occupational health care, offering both preventive services and primary health care. Finland spends less on health care than most other EU member states. This is due both to the efficiency of the system and to the relatively low level of wages in the health care sector in Finland. The FMA has repeatedly demanded more resources for health services. centre. Most private practitioners work in group practices. The mandatory national health insurance scheme reimburses a proportion of the fees paid by patients to private doctors, the costs of prescribed medicines, and travel costs arising from the treatment of illness. All Finnish doctors are covered by the reimbursement system, which is administered by the Social Insurance Institution.
Finnish doctors by main employment (%) Municipal hospitals Municipal health centres Private practice Teaching, research Occupational health Other 47 22 11 6 6 8

Private health care

Private medical treatment supplements the care provided by municipalities. Many doctors, dentists, and physiotherapists offer private care, particularly in cities. There are also a few small private hospitals. More than 10% of Finnish doctors earn their living solely as private practitioners. About one-third of doctors run a private practice in addition to working in a hospital or health

Specialist care
Finland is divided into 20 hospital districts, each providing specialist consultation and care for its population. Local municipal authorities are responsible for funding the specialist treatment provided for the inhabitants of their areas. In comparison with other countries, the number of hospital beds in Finland is fairly high. There has been a trend towards reducing the number of hospital beds by arranging patient care in a stepwise manner and by transferring more patients to outpatient care. The number of emergency units has also been reduced in an effort to save costs and reduce the workloads of doctors.

Primary health care

Finland is divided into about two hundred municipalities, which are responsible for arranging health care for their inhabitants. Primary health care is provided at health centres (terveyskeskus) established by a single municipality or jointly by neighbouring municipalities. Municipalities may buy services from other municipalities or from the private sector. Health centre services include medical consultations and provision of dental care, preventive care and environmental health care. Health centres run maternity and child health clinics, and arrange school health services.

Cost of public health care

Central governments contribution to the cost of municipal health care is determined by population numbers, age structures and morbidity statistics. The decline in public sector health care expenditure in recent years has led to increases in costs to households.

Medical education in Finland

In Finland, medical education is offered by five universities: Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu and Kuopio. The number of students admitted to medical schools has varied greatly in recent decades. Because of the shortage of doctors, mainly in primary health care, the number of medical students has been increased to more than 600 a year. The view of the FMA is that an adequate supply of doctors for public health care should be ensured by improving the remuneration and working conditions of public health doctors rather than by still increasing the number of students. Students come into contact with patients from the beginning of their studies. Problem-based learning methods have been introduced. All medical schools have research programmes for students who wish to undertake scientific work. During the clinical period of their courses, students participate in the work of various hospital departments and health centres, where they learn the necessary medical skills. After each clinical course, students have to pass a final examination in the specialty concerned. The basic medical education lasts for a minimum of six and a half years and leads to the degree of Licentiate of Medicine. Licensed doctors are entitled to work under the guidance and supervision of another doctor. In order to receive full authorisation as a general practitioner Finnish doctors have to undergo the additional training for primary health care.

Specialties
Almost two-thirds of all Finnish doctors are specialists. The number of specialties in Finland is 49, of which 16 require five years training and the other 33 take six years to complete.
Adolescent Psychiatry Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine Cardiology Cardiothoracic Surgery Child Neurology Child Psychiatry Clinical Chemistry Clinical Genetics Clinical Haematology Clinical Microbiology Clinical Neurophysiology Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine Dermatology and Allergology Endocrinology Forensic Medicine Forensic Psychiatry Gastroenterological Surgery Gastroenterology General Practice General Surgery Geriatrics Hand Surgery Infectious Diseases Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Neurosurgery Obstetrics and Gynaecology Occupational Health Oncology Ophthalmology Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Orthopaedics and Traumatology Otolaryngology Paediatric Surgery Paediatrics Pathology Phoniatrics Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Plastic Surgery Psychiatry Public Health Radiology Respiratory Medicine and Allergology Rheumatology Sports Medicine Urology Vascular Surgery

Special competences
As a supplement to the official system of specialisation, the Finnish medical Association has introduced a number of special competences. These relate to specific specialty areas in which particular skills of a demanding nature are required. Suggestions for the establishment of new areas of special competence usually stem from the specialist societies.
Addiction Medicine Andrology Cardiac Anaesthesia Child Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Child and School Health Care Child Orthopaedics and Traumatology Child Psychotherapy Diving Medicine and Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Emergency Medicine Eye Surgery General Hospital Psychiatry Hospital Hygiene Insurance Medicine Intensive Care Medicine International Health Care Laboratory Haematology Medical Aspects of Intellectual Disability Medical Education Military Medicine Musicians Medicine Neuroanaesthesiology Obstetric Anaesthesiology Paediatric Rheumatology Pain Management Palliative medicine Pharmaceutical Medicine Psychotherapy Rehabilitation Rheuma-Orthopaedics Screening Mammography Sleep Medicine Traffic Medicine Training in Child Psychotherapy Training in Psychotherapy Treatment of Diabetes

Practice of medicine by foreign doctors

Everyone coming to Finland to work from outside the European Union must obtain a residence permit if her or his employment is to last longer than three months. The permit is granted by the police department in the place of residence. Citizens of EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland have the right to reside, work or practise a profession in Finland for three months without a residence permit. If the stay lasts longer than that, they must however register their right to reside in Finland at a police department. Citizens of the countries listed above do not need work permits. Doctors from within the EU or European Economic Area (EEA) can obtain a licence to practise medicine in Finland on the basis of EU directives concerning the free movement of doctors and mutual recognition of diplomas. The licensing of doctors from within the EU and EEA does not require a demonstration of language proficiency, but employers such as municipalities may require certificates relating to linguistic skills. Treating patients would be difficult without a working knowledge of Finnish. Doctors from outside the EU or EEA have to undergo a practical training and pass a threepart examination to receive a licence to practise medicine in Finland. The three-part examination includes questions relating to administration, legislation, and clinical medicine, and a practical section testing the individuals ability to cope with normal clinical situations. There is also a language test. Licences are granted in stages. The initial licence is valid only for hospital work. It can subsequently be extended to cover health centre work and then work in other institutions and in private practice. Licences are always granted for specific periods of time. If a holder of an extended licence is granted Finnish citizenship, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health can authorize her or him to practise medicine independently as a licensed doctor. Further information can be obtained from: The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira. www.valvira.fi.

Membership benefits and services of the FMA

As a member of the Finnish Medical Association, you are entitled to a number of valuable benefits and services. Joining the Association is certainly worthwhile!

Patient insurance brings security for practitioners

In Finland, employers are under an obligation to take out patient insurance that covers any medical injuries. Patient insurance is also mandatory for doctors running a private practice. The insurance is included in the FMA membership fee. The insurance is offered by the Association as a free membership benefit and also covers part-time work as a private practitioner. Compensation is only paid for personal injuries occurring in Finland in connection with medical care and health care. Thanks to the patient insurance system, medical injuries are rarely taken to court, and doctors do not have to cover them themselves. The Associations membership benefits also include liability insurance, which can be used to cover injury to the patients property, e.g. in a situation where a prosthesis is damaged during treatment.

Membership fee
The Associations membership fees are graded based on the number of years since you obtained your licence in Finland. No fee is charged for the year you join. During the following years, the membership fee gradually increases. The full membership fee (480 euros in 2009) is only due on the fourth year of membership. The FMA membership fee can be deducted from taxation. The Association notifies the tax office of the membership fees paid, and the deduction is therefore calculated automatically.

Valvira is the licensing and supervising authority

The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) grants, upon application, the right to practise as a licensed doctor in Finland. Valvira assesses and approves the academic qualifications of health care professionals and recognises degrees. Licence administration constitutes the basis for proactive supervision and guidance. Any person practising as a healthcare professional in Finland without a licence may be sentenced to a fine or imprisonment. All doctors working in Finland need an identification code, which is issued by Valvira. The identification code must be written or stamped on prescriptions and other documents.

Support for court costs

The FMA membership fee also includes legal expenses insurance covering legal and litigation expenses in certain matters relating to the profession of a doctor. The maximum compensation is 18,000 euros, the excess being 15%. The use of legal expenses insurance must be agreed with the insurance company in advance. In these situations, you should first contact the FMAs lawyers.

Advice from the Association's lawyers

The lawyers working at the FMA office have a thorough expertise in medical law. They are well acquainted with both doctors and patients rights and with the legislation and regulations concerning Finnish health care. FMAs lawyers advise members on questions related to salaries and terms of employment. They also help in matters concerning doctors social security, pensions and taxation.

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Insurance at reduced cost

The FMA has negotiated with the insurance company Pohjola reduced insurance premiums for its members, who can also benefit from more advantageous insurance terms concerning several voluntary forms of insurance. When taking out insurance, remember to state you are a member of the FMA. Life assurance Business interruption insurance Accident and travel insurance Luggage insurance Home insurance Car insurance Forest insurance Further information on insurance is available in the Associations insurance guidebook and on the Pohjola website. The FMA member web pages at www.laakariliitto.fi/jasen have a link to the Pohjola site.

Help to find work

The FMA labour exchange helps those interested in open medical posts and locum tenancies of various lengths. The Association also advises doctors moving to Finland from abroad in work-related matters and helps them to find work or an internship. Those who have been away from Finland for a long time or had a lengthy break in their careers can also find information on workplaces that provide extra guidance for new members of staff. Job advertisements can be found in the Finnish Medical Journal and on the www.laakarilehti.fi website. The FMA also has a job board that can be accessed by clicking on the blue Keskustelu [Discussion] bar at the top centre of the www.fimnet.fi web page. The board is at the bottom of the list. Above the job board there is also a jobseekers board titled Tynhaku where doctors seeking work can submit an advertisement. The electronic service is available in Finnish only. You can also contact the FMA employment secretary directly to ask about open posts and she will get in touch with you once a suitable post has become available. Raija Seppi, Employment secretary tel. (09) 393 0723 raija.seppi@fimnet.fi

Finnish Medical Journal delivered weekly to your home

The Finnish Medical Journal, published by the Association, is sent to members free of charge. This weekly journal is the most important channel for the dissemination of medical information in Finland. It helps you to develop your professional skills and provides information on the Finnish health care system and the activities of the FMA. Article summaries in English are published digitally at www.laakarilehti.fi. The digital paper and the journal newsletter keep you up to date with the latest health care news.

Online member services

The website www.laakariliitto.fi provides information on the activities of the Association and on doctors in Finland. The website also has a separate members section with the Associations publications, member services and information on doctors salaries and other terms of employment. You can log on to the www.laakariliitto.fi/jasen section using your FiMnet ID, which can be requested from www.fimnet.fi/tunnus/. The FiMnet ID also allows you to participate in a doctors-only discussion forum. The Associations member services include the online FiMnet services, designed specifically for doctors. They include access to medical databases. Members can also advertise their private practice free of charge in the Etsi lkri [Find a doctor] system. The salaries service Palkkatohtori [the Salary Doctor] offers information on the average income and salary distribution of doctors in different fields and with a range of tasks. It can be accessed at www.fimnet.fi/cl/sll/palkkatohtori/ Practicus is an online service intended for full- and part-time private practitioners and those planning to start up in private practice. See www.fimnet.fi/cl/sll/practicus As a member of the Association you are entitled to a permanent fimnet.fi email address for yourself and five members of your family. Server space is also available for your personal homepage. FMAs website in English: www.medassoc.fi

Handbooks and other publications

The FMA has compiled several handbooks to support its members in their activities and promote their interests. The handbooks are free of charge to members. The salary handbook provides information on agreements concerning doctors salaries and employment contracts. It also gives advice on how to negotiate your salary. The private practitioners handbook is designed to help those considering starting up in private practice. The Finnish-language medical ethics book Lkrin etiikka includes the Associations ethical guidelines and its opinions on ethical issues relating to the work of a doctor. The Association also has many other handbooks that can be ordered from the Associations office. The handbooks are also available at www.laakariliitto.fi/jasen. Every five years, the FMA publishes in book form a register containing information on the education, career and other activities of doctors working in Finland. The majority of doctors have also submitted a photograph for the book. The Association has also published books related to medicine, health care and the development of the medical profession.

Free membership in the unemployment fund

Doctors unemployment fund provides compensation for members during unemployment or layoffs. The amount of compensation depends on the doctors level of income before unemployment. Finland also has a job alternation leave system that allows those with a longer history of employment to take up to a year off and receive compensation from the unemployment fund during this time. You should join the unemployment fund yourself. Membership is free of charge to you as the FMA covers your membership fee. Further information: www.laakarientkassa.fi

Useful information in your pocket calendar

The doctors pocket-size calendar, published annually by the Association, contains useful information on doctors and the services of the Association. The calendar is distributed free of charge with the Finnish Medical Journal.

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Membership application MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Education at member prices
The Association organises the Finnish Medical Convention, the largest medical education event for doctors in Finland. Members are welcome to visit the Conventions exhibition and plenary lectures free of charge. They can also benefit from reduced fees for courses. Lectures given by international experts are in English, while other lectures and events are mainly in Finnish. As a member, you can also take part in education organised by the FMA and its information service company Fennomed at a reduced price.

Holiday services at member prices

Members of the FMA and their families can rent timeshare apartments at the best Finnish holiday centres at reduced cost. The apartments, rented for a week at a time, are spacious and of a high standard. Details on the sites and instructions on how to apply are available at www.laakariliitto.fi/jasen > Aikaosuuspalvelu. Members are entitled to a 25% price reduction for the holiday apartments (not hotel rooms) of Holiday Club Finland.

Personal identity code (date of birth) Surname/First names (underline the one you normally use) Citizenship Mother tongue/ Other language skills

Home address

Member products online The membership card proves you are a doctor
Together with the invoice for your membership fee, you will also receive a membership card proving that you are a doctor and a member of the FMA. The card is needed when you use the Associations membership benefits and services. Visiting cards and other member products can be conveniently ordered from the www.laakariliitto. fi/jasen site. The site also provides information on other up-to-date membership benefits and price reductions. The FMA is part of AKAVA, the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland. As an FMA member, you are therefore free to utilise AKAVA membership benefits. Information on AKAVA holiday benefits, such as cottages and reduced member prices with ferry companies and hotels, is available at the website www.akava.fi.

Employer Position E-mail address

Phone (work) Mobile phone

Support for doctors well-being at work

The FMA works to promote its members wellbeing in a number of ways. The Association is concerned that many doctors do not seek help in matters relating to their own health. To improve the situation, the Association has started a network titled Doctors for doctors. The experienced colleagues in the network give advice to doctors who, for some reason, find it difficult to use ordinary health care services. As a result of the Associations initiatives, dedicated rehabilitation courses are currently available for doctors. They work to promote doctors health and their ability to manage at work.

Details of graduating as a physician date, university

Research on doctors
The FMA constantly studies developments in the medical labour market as well as doctors salaries and working hours. The latest information on the number of doctors and their distribution into various sectors can be obtained using the calculator available at www.laakariliitto.fi/ laakarilaskuri/. The calculator also works in Swedish and English. The Association provides statistics, research reports and brochures on Finnish doctors. The Associations brochures and pocket statistics are also available in Swedish and English.

Other details

Date Signature

TO BE ANNEXED TO THE APPLICATION: A copy of the licence to work as a physician, granted by the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira)

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Application for membership

Membership in the Finnish Medical Association (FMA) is voluntary, but practically all doctors practising in Finland (94%) are members of the Association. The Association has no official supervising duties as many medical chambers in other countries do. Instead, it focuses on representing the interests of doctors. In Finland, maintaining the medical register and controlling and supervising doctors are the tasks of Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. You are welcome to join the FMA once you have been licensed by Valvira, i.e. been granted permission to practise the profession of a doctor in Finland either independently or under the direction and supervision of another doctor. Applications for membership should be submitted using the attached form. Please attach a copy of your licensing certificate obtained from Valvira and send the application to the FMA office. New members are approved by the Board of the Association. Obtaining the decision may take one to two months depending on their meeting schedule. Further information on the activities of the Association and its membership benefits will be sent to you together with your letter of acceptance. The Finnish Medical Association Mkelnkatu 2 PO Box 49 FIN-00501 Helsinki Telephone +358-9-393 091 Fax +358-9-393 0794 www.medassoc.fi fma@fimnet.fi
Finnish Medical Association

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